Definition
37. (1) In this section, “customer” means an industrial customer of Ontario Hydro having an average annual power demand of 5,000 kilowatts or more or a municipal corporation or municipal electric utility commission. Proposal by Ontario Hydro to change rates or charges (2) Where Ontario Hydro proposes to change any of its rates or charges for any customer, it shall submit the proposal to the Minister not less than eight months before the date that the change is proposed to come into effect and the Minister shall refer the proposal to the Board. Idem, public hearing by Board (3) Where a proposal is referred to the Board by the Minister under subsection (2), the Board forthwith by public advertisement shall give at least twenty days notice of and shall hold a public hearing with respect to the proposal and shall make a report or an interim report thereon to the Minister at least four months before the proposed effective date of such change and where the Board makes an interim report within such time it shall make a final report as soon as possible thereafter. Idem (4) The Minister at any time may refer to the Board, in addition to any proposed changes in rates or charges mentioned in subsection (2), (a) any existing or proposed rates or charges of Ontario Hydro to its customers or any class thereof; (b) any matter in any way affecting or related to rates or charges by Ontario Hydro to its customers including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, principles and practices respecting power costing, rate-making, financing, service reliability, system expansion and operations; or (c) the principles used by or appropriate for use by Ontario Hydro in the exercise of any power to approve, determine or fix rates or other charges under section 107, 110 or 113 of the Power Corporation Act, and the Board shall hold a public hearing at which it shall investigate and examine into the matter referred to it and shall then report thereon to the Minister. Reference may be general or particular (5) A reference under this section may be general or particular in terms and may specify criteria or factors to guide the Board in making its investigation, examination and report. Directions by Board (6) The Board may at any time give directions as to the nature and extent of interventions by persons interested in a matter that is to be the subject of a public hearing held under this section, may set aside for future examination any issue that in its opinion requires a more prolonged examination and may make interim reports pending its final report with respect to the subject-matter of any reference. Board may appoint class representative (7) The Board may appoint from among a class of retail customers of Ontario Hydro having, in the opinion of the Board, a common interest, a person to represent that class at the hearing where it appears to the Board that the appointment should be made so that the class can be heard, but any other member of the class for which such appointment was made may be heard despite the appointment. Report of Board (8) An interim or final report of the Board under this section shall contain a summary of the information presented and the views expressed at the public hearing together with the opinion of the Board and its reasons therefor with respect to the matter or matters reported on and the signatures of the members of the Board making the report, and the Board shall deliver a copy of the report to Ontario Hydro forthwith after its making. Public inspection of report (9) Upon delivery of a report under this section, the Board shall make reasonable arrangements for inspection or purchase of copies by the public. R.S.O. 1990, c. O.13, s. 37. PART II   GAS PRIORITIES AND ALLOCATION